Worcester woman tells of kidnapping in Liberia

Lee Hammel TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Published Wednesday October 10, 2012 at 6:00 am

Updated Wednesday October 10, 2012 at 10:13 pm

Ms. Andrianopoulos

A Worcester woman said yesterday she was kidnapped for ransom in Liberia, beaten and tortured over two to three days then escaped, only to be prevented by the government from leaving that West African country.

Christina Andrianopoulos, 58, said in an interview from her hotel in Monrovia that she is hopeful that a court will permit her to leave the country today. She said the U.S. Embassy in Liberia has booked a flight for her tonight that should put her in Boston by 2 p.m. tomorrow. The widow said she looks forward to seeing her 21-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter and boyfriend George Cancelmo.

Ms. Andrianopoulos hosts “City Vibes Metro” a show on Charter TV 3. As president of Omega Marketing Group, she had gone to Liberia on business.

She told a horrific tale of being held captive for almost three days before escaping on Sept. 26, but getting confirmation of her account was difficult yesterday, she said.

“The FBI worked with the Liberian National Police to conduct a kidnapping investigation regarding Christina Andrianopoulos, once she was reported kidnapped in Liberia,” FBI spokesman Greg Comcowich said. “The Liberian national police were able to resolve the matter quickly and she is currently in close contact with our embassy personnel in Liberia. No further information about the matter will be provided by the FBI.”

The State Department said it would not respond last night to questions about the kidnapping.

However, Samuel Nimley, commissioner for intelligence for the Liberian national police, said in a brief telephone interview that although the country’s laws prohibit him from saying whether Ms. Andrianopoulos’ account of events is accurate a Nigerian national was arrested last week and has been charged with kidnapping her and assault and battery.

He said other Nigerians are being sought. He also said a court ruling today would speak to Ms. Andrianopoulos’ account of the incident.

For her part, Ms. Andrianopoulos said reports in Liberian newspapers that she had been arrested are false.

One such newspaper, The Inquirer in Monrovia, reported that Ms. Andrianopoulos was arrested at the airport in the company of U.S. embassy security personnel after the government refused an embassy request that she be allowed to leave the country. The country’s acting justice minister said at a news conference, with the acting police director present, that he was informing the media about the arrest because people have a way of entering Liberia and acting to damage the image of the country. “I am not saying that this is what the lady intends to do,” the official said.

Ms. Andrianopoulos said she went to the airport after her escape with the intention of talking to the Liberian police there before leaving for the United States and was prevented from leaving and taken back to national police headquarters for questioning.

She said the kidnapping began when she arrived in the country and was whisked away by a man who said he was the driver for a businessman she intended to meet in Liberia. She said the captors who held her in a darkened house said, “We don’t rape women.” She added, “But they beat ’em,” and she suffered bruises to her face and an injury to an ear that damaged her hearing.

She was guarded by a man who said he was “The Rebel Boss, the DonDo,” and two men who saluted him said “yes, sir” to him, she said. They forced her to call her family and demand a $5 million ransom, she said.

U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, spoke to Ms. Andrianopoulos and her family and the State Department, and understands that she will be able to return to the United States this week, said spokesman Scott Zoback.

U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., has been in touch with the FBI and is working with Ms. Andrianopoulos’ fiancÚ, spokeswoman Marcie Kinzel said.